ViaSat wins contracts to supply MIDS JTRS terminals for US military

ViaSat has been contracted to provide multifunctional information distribution system (MIDS) joint tactical radio system (JTRS) terminals for the US Air Force (USAF).

The Lot 5 and Lot 5a contracts were awarded by the US Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) and also include the supply of MIDS JTRS terminals to the US Navy.

Under the $88.3m contracts, ViaSat will develop, field, and support interoperable, affordable and secure MIDS tactical data link, as well as programmable networking technologies and capabilities for the joint, coalition and international soldier.

ViaSat Government Systems president Ken Peterman said: "The Lot 5 and Lot 5a awards underscore ViaSat's position as the leading provider of Link 16 airborne networking systems.

“The size of these awards will allow us to establish operational economies of scale that will further benefit customers in cost savings."

"The size of these awards will allow us to establish operational economies of scale that will further benefit customers in cost savings."

The latest contracts allow the company to remain the largest provider of MIDS JTRS terminals to the US military.

The MIDS JTRS is said to improve battlefield communications by providing the ability to communicate by voice, video and data with a line-of-sight, jam-resistant capability across the ground, air and naval assets.

This four-channel, software-defined radio delivers Link 16 communications with concurrent multi-netting-4 and tactical air navigation, as well as three channels for future growth, ViaSat stated.

Work under the contracts will be carried out in Carlsbad, California, US, and Tempe, Arizona, US, and is expected to be completed by June 2019.